Rob Breakenridge on the latest free speech victory in Canada

(PS: It’s really important to remind you all at this point that there is NO gay agenda!)

A Saskatchewan human rights tribunal ruled the pamphlets promoted hatred against homosexuals and therefore violated the human rights code. Whatcott was ordered to pay $17,500 in fines. Two of the flyers warn of “sodomites in schools.”

Interestingly the other two are little more than a reprint of classified ads from what is billed as Saskatchewan’s largest gay magazine in which “boys/men” of “any age” are being sought.

(…)

To use the argument that a violent person might be motivated by another’s sharp but legitimate political criticism, is an invitation to censor almost anyone. Perhaps by criticizing Whatcott, I’m encouraging someone to commit violence against Christians. Perhaps by criticizing the tribunal, I’m encouraging some nut to set fire to their offices.

Wherever one may stand on the question of gay marriage or homosexuality, these are public issues and as such ought to be debated.

As the Whatcott ruling notes, “anything that limits debate on the morality of behaviour is an intrusion on the right to freedom of expression.” Such censorship is not only wrong, but counterproductive. Far more people have been exposed to the beliefs of Whatcott and Boissoin than otherwise would have been the case. Many who would otherwise be unsympathetic to their point of view have found sympathy for them. The hounding and gagging of these two men was an affront to our values as a free country.

On top of that, it was a colossal waste of resources paid for by the taxpayer.